About ISR
What is ISR?
ISR was founded in 1966 by Dr. Harvey Barnett and is now recognized as the global leader in providing survival swimming lessons for infants and young children. The ISR team consists of over 800 highly trained Instructors who provide the safest and most effective survival swimming lessons available. The ISR Self-Rescue® instruction which students receive today is the product of 50+ years of research and achieves unparalleled results. ISR firmly believes that pool fences, supervision, and pool alarms are crucial components of a comprehensive approach to preventing children from drowning. However, traditional methods of protection often fall short, and the alarming statistic of over 4,000 drowning deaths annually serves as a stark reminder that these conventional approaches overlook a vital element: the child.
ISR’s unwavering conviction is that the child holds the utmost importance in a drowning prevention strategy. Our extensive experience, with over 300,000 ISR graduates and 800 documented survival stories, demonstrates that children possess the capability to save themselves. Children are naturally curious, resourceful, and possess an extraordinary ability to overcome obstacles, such as pool fences. At ISR, we equip them with the essential skills to safeguard themselves if they find themselves in the water alone.
Choosing Between ISR and Traditional Swim Lessons
There truly is no single “right” choice for every family. The best fit depends on your child’s unique personality, your family's daily schedule, and how often you're around water.
ISR May Suit Families Who:
• Live near pools, lakes, canals, or the ocean and have frequent, unavoidable water exposure.
• Want a structured, intensive course that focuses heavily on essential self-rescue skills.
• Are comfortable with short, frequent lessons and a more serious, goal-oriented tone than play-based classes.
• Can commit to daily attendance over the full length of the session.
Traditional Swim Lessons May Fit Better If:
• Your main goal is long-term swimming ability, general comfort, and social fun.
• You prefer a slower, more playful progression with plenty of parental involvement in the water.
• You need a more flexible schedule or a lower-cost option.
Pro Tip: Many families love a hybrid approach—starting with survival-focused lessons to build a safety foundation, then transitioning to traditional stroke lessons as their child grows and gains confidence